(Parliament,
Wednesday):Sin Chew Daily today
reported from its sources that all the three members of the Haidar Panel
established to determine the authenticity of the Lingam Tape had one
common recommendation – to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

If this is true, then the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
would have no option but to establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry or he
would be facing his greatest crisis of confidence in his four years as
Prime Minister.

Then the question is the terms of reference and composition of the Royal
Commission of Inquiry.

In such circumstances, the Prime Minister should undertake a proper and
meaningful consultation with representative personalities and groups to
ensure that the Royal Commission of Inquiry when established would not
become another divisive issue, either because of its restricted terms of
reference, controversial composition or procrastination.

Such a Royal Commission must have full and untrammeled powers to inquire
into the deep-seated causes for the series of crisis of confidence in the
independence, integrity and quality of the judiciary which have tainted
Malaysia’s system of justice to one held in high international esteem and
regard two decades ago to one looked askance nationally and
internationally by all respectable jurists, legal and civic organizations.